No significant difference in subjective or objective outcomes for single-, double-bundle techniques.

HealthDay News -- For patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, outcomes are similar for the anatomic double-bundle (DB) or single-bundle (SB) techniques, according to a study presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day.

Ioannis Karikis, MD, from NU-Hospital Group in Uddevella, Sweden, and colleagues randomly allocated 103 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction to the anatomic DB technique or SB technique (53 and 50 patients, respectively). The patients were examined preoperatively and at a median follow-up of 64 months. Five-year follow-up data were available for 87 patients.

At follow-up, the presence of osteoarthritis did not differ between the groups. Compared with the preoperative assessment, both groups showed significant improvement at follow-up.

"While several studies have shown double-bundle ACL reconstruction is preferable over single-bundle, our research suggests both may be successful surgical approaches for patients," Karikis said in a statement. "If nothing else, the double-bundle technique did not offer better performance for patients recovering from ACL surgery."